The Fountain of Wisdom

[Right Column]

The square is divided, and regarding this, we must say that the fourth is four. We have taken measure from weight, and weight from measure; weight from the square, and the square from the Tofah A handbreadth or palm-width, and the Tofah from the Zeret A span; the distance between the thumb and little finger, and the Zeret from the hand, and the hand from the Zeret. Everything is within the circle. We took the circle from One, and One from Ten.

Ten is the Fountain; its roots are intertwined, and its sources are cleaved together. The ends are established in the perfection of the circle. The circle is a star to revolve, and the revolving is for the upright, and the upright is for the standing, and the standing investigates. Investigation is "exalted"—meaning thought—and the exalted cries out, and the cry goes forth, and the going forth gives birth, and the birthing flows, and the flowing spreads, and the spreading grows strong, and the strengthening flashes forth.

This is the Primordial Light. In it, all generalities return to particulars, and particulars to generalities. They are all like the letter Yod The smallest letter of the Hebrew alphabet, representing a point of origin and the letter Dalet Representing the four directions or dimensions, including and chiming, returning and crying out. In their return, they become circular; in their circling, they grow hot. They run like the movement of silver being heated in fire until they all join one with another, like pieces of refined silver that merge when heated. The parts join part to part until they return as one.

This is what we said regarding movement: when a person breathes—meaning to say "One"—two parts are made: Voice and Spirit The Hebrew word 'Ruach' means both spirit, wind, and breath. Movement is the Voice because it issues as a sound and indicates "One." The Spirit is the air and indicates a second "One." Thus, there are two "Ones." Both together are called Speech because of the light that comes from both of them. This is Voice, Spirit, and Speech. A third "One" is likewise Voice, Spirit, and Speech; a fourth "One" is likewise Voice, Spirit, and Speech. As we have already said, two movements are four: One, One, One, One. In four times, you will find four "Speeches."

He brought forth these four Speeches, which are the air between the Alephs The first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, which is divided into four. The second is a sign for two, in order to include two things in one. You will find that this is the "Additional Aleph." They are five: One, One, One, One, One. These four are the powers that grow strong, spread, and change in the construction of the Body. The fifth that remains is the Lord, and He is the Unique Lord. From Him issue sparks that flash like burning flames. They divide into many colors, and every single color indicates its own matter. It teaches anyone who gazes with his vision how to gaze, how to investigate, how to stand upon investigation, and by what means to stand upon the imagination—to seek, to explore, and to become wise. In every single movement, [it shows] how they change,

[Left Column]

and how they are divided, and how they cleave, and how they are scattered and gathered, whitened and mixed. They go forth in several hidden crowns, crowned and wreathed, indicating fixed matters. All of them are continuous, crowned, darkened, and revealed. Everything returns to one place, to one color, and to one matter, until the branches of the flames return to be two as one.

And the "One" is thirteen, and the thirteen are One In Hebrew numerology (Gematria), the word for One (Echad) equals 13, for it is in the calculation. How so? The One is two, as we said. And the five—One, One, One, One, One—all of them are thus ten. When you make three parts from these ten, one remains. That one is a thousand The word 'Aleph' (1) is spelled the same as 'Eleph' (1,000), and the one that is thirteen is One.

Now I shall explain with complete clarity how the One is in the calculation of four. When you calculate four times four, they are sixteen. Remove from them the One which is in the calculation of the two, and fourteen remain. Remove from them the light that issues from both of them, which is counted as one "One," and thirteen remain—corresponding to the Thirteen Attributes The thirteen attributes of Divine Mercy. These thirteen attributes each indicate their own matter, and each one its own place, the book, the story, the totality, the speech, the scroll, the flow of the fountains, and the scepters of the sources.

Now, observe and understand; prepare your heart for the first study, which is long, established, and straight like a scepter. And regarding these matters, all these are called the fount— The text cuts off mid-word: 'Ma'ayan' (Fountain)